The Democrats who bet wrong on ICE
Welcome to The Midterms, Actually. Every week I’ll be writing about two things: one big idea or trend I see forming across the 2026 primaries, and one thing I’m hearing from a voice on the ground. You can sign up here to get it in your inbox every week. Let’s get into it. One big […]
One big idea this week: Democrats' Laken Riley vote is aging badly. Two recent events highlight the rapidly evolving politics surrounding immigration enforcement. First, Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, urged the administration to scale back its enforcement efforts. Justice expressed concern that the administration was overreaching, even targeting long-time residents.
This sentiment isn't unique to Justice, as several Republican senators facing tough re-elections have spoken out against ICE's recent actions. The second development went largely unnoticed: Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democratic senator from Georgia running for re-election and considered a possible 2028 presidential contender, faced difficulty explaining his vote in support of the Laken Riley Act in January 2025.
This legislation mandates ICE to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related offenses before any conviction. During a press conference with Drop Site News, Ossoff mentioned his work investigating alleged ICE abuses but avoided addressing his vote directly. He defended his stance by emphasizing the need to focus on serious crimes and the protection of American citizens.
However, the reporter pressed him on potential violations of due process. Both instances illustrate the shifting political landscape. Just a year after Ossoff and 11 other Senate Democrats voted in favor of Trump's immigration bill, the administration's actions have led to increased ICE enforcement, causing political turmoil. As Trump has taken a hardline approach, Democrats like Ossoff are finding themselves in a precarious position.
The question now arises: how can they reconcile their support for a Trump-led immigration agenda with their values of protecting marginalized communities? The political consequences are already evident in some cases, as seen with Minnesota's US Rep. Angie Craig, who faced intense criticism over her vote and ultimately lost her primary race.
Similar pressure is mounting on other Democrats who supported the Laken Riley Act, highlighting the growing disconnect between their political calculus and the reality on the ground.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
